The Harvard women's soccer team continued its 2025 non-conference slate on Friday night as it traveled to Connecticut to take on Fairfield University under the lights at Lessing Field. Despite creating a number of quality scoring opportunities and receiving standout performances on both ends of the field, the Crimson (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Ivy) came up just short against the Stags (4-1-0, 0-0-0 MAAC), falling by a final score of 2-1.
How It Happened
The Crimson nearly jumped on the board in the opening moments when first-year Elsa Santos Lopez tested Fairfield goalkeeper Katie Wright with a low shot in the third minute. Just over two minutes later, the Stags answered with the night's opening goal, as Maddy Theriault found the back of the net off a pass from Ashley McMahon to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
Harvard's back line held steady as both sides traded chances through the middle of the first half. With just under 20 minutes to play in the frame, the Crimson nearly equalized when
Danicka Miller got a piece of a redirected set piece, only for Wright to tip the ball just over the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute after a well-worked sequence from the Crimson. Building out of the back, Harvard pushed forward to find
Lauren Muniz streaking down the right side. Muniz beat her defender and swung a cross into the box that deflected off
Audrey Francois before landing at the feet of Santos Lopez. The first-year calmly one-timed her finish into the top corner for her first collegiate goal, leveling the match at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.
Harvard carried its momentum into the start of the second half, generating two corners in the opening minutes. Stewart then came up big for the Crimson in the 60th minute, diving to her left to deny McMahon's long-range strike from sneaking inside the top left corner.
Fairfield regained the lead in the 71st minute, converting off a set piece when Alex Darcy rose above the defense to head home a corner from Payton Zaun. The Crimson pressed forward in search of an equalizer during the final stretch, but Wright and the Stags' back line held firm to close out the result.
Harvard Highlights
- First-year Elsa Santos Lopez scored her first career goal in the 38th minute.
- Goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart tallied seven saves, including a diving stop early in the second half.
- Santos Lopez led all Crimson players with four shots, each of which was on target.
Up Next
The Crimson return to Jordan Field for their 2025 home opener on Monday (Sept. 1), hosting Kansas State at 11:30 a.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
